It's
a fact! With the increase in lens technology, taking pictures without the
use of a tripod has become easier. Image Stabilization (IS) lenses
manufactured by Canon and the Vibration Reduction (VR) by Nikon have
allowed photographers to handhold lenses at shutter speeds never before
thought possible. Remember the rule of thumb that your shutter speed had
to be equal to or greater than the focal length of the lens? That rule no
longer applies with this type of technology. It has opened avenues for
wildlife photography, and handholding when a tripod is not an option, but
does it mean that I have done away with my tripod? Not by a long shot. Let
me share with you the benefits of owning, and using a tripod.

My
tripod is by far my most important piece of photographic equipment. It has
contributed to my success as a nature photographer. Without it, my
limitations increase tremendously. With it, I'm free to shoot when, where
and how I choose.

Light: Early morning and late day offer us the best opportunity
for capturing breathtaking light. However, low light levels mean longer
exposures. During these peak shooting times most of my shutter speeds are
in the range of 1/4 to 2 seconds. A tripod is an absolute necessity in
this situation.

Film Speed: Choosing is not an issue. Personally I shoot Velvia
50 for most of my landscape images. Slower film speeds offer greater color
saturation and finer grain, which are great for enlargements. Because I'm
using a tripod, I'm in full control of choosing an aperture and shutter
speed that best suits any given composition.

Fine Tuning Your Images: It's a known fact that it is impossible
to handhold your camera and take two identical images. No one on this
planet has the ability to be to do this. In my workshops we put great
emphasis on working and fine tuning your subjects.

By
placing your camera on a tripod you have the ability to zoom in and out,
work left or right and include or eliminate subject matter from your final
image. Once you've established your final image, this will allow you to
bracket your exposures or shoot multiple dupe images in camera. I always
take 3-4 images of the same subject. I keep one in a carousel for
projection purposes, one to print from and several for submission
purposes.

Sharpness: All components of a great image are important to me,
but a "soft" image will find it's way to the wastebasket in a
hurry. As a lab owner I have the opportunity to enlarge many customers
images, most of which look very sharp as a 4x6 print. However, magnify
that negative or slide and you'll be amazed how soft an image can become.
Tripods allow us to record sharp images. Stability is a must! Be careful
when shooting under windy conditions with long exposures and long lenses.
Any slight movement will record an unsharp image. If not needed, also
remove your lenshood in windy conditions. To ensure there is no movement
during landscape photography, I often keep a close eye on my focusing
points in the viewfinder. When they are motionless, I click the shutter.

Depth of Field: This is one area of great importance to all
landscape photographers. Strong foreground elements mean small apertures.
Small apertures mean longer exposures. Long exposures...yup, you guessed
itůmean using a tripod!

Shutter
Speeds: Often times we wish to use slower shutter speeds for effect.
To give water that silky, soft look I often use shutter speeds in the
range of one to three seconds, and on occasion with shoreline ocean images
an expose of thirty seconds to one full minute can be very creative.

Cable Release or Remote Sensors: In addition to owning a tripod,
be sure to purchase a cable release or remote sensor to help trigger your
shutter. Doing so will eliminate any bodily contact with your system that
may lead to camera shake. If you do not own one or have lost yours, I
recommend as a temporary backup using your self-timer. This can be
troublesome if you're waiting for the breeze to settle down, and releasing
the shutter should be immediate.

Choosing a tripod that best suits your needs should be important to
you. Skimping on price and quality can lead to poor image quality. I
recommend putting out the coin for a sturdy, reliable system that is easy
to operate and you feel comfortable using. Buying without seeing or having
the opportunity to handle is not in your best interest; but often times a
purchase can come through the suggestion of a leading pro photographer.
High quality systems can run in the hundreds of dollars, but with care it
will last you a lifetime. After all, if you're purchasing an SLR system,
why not have the ability to use all the functions available to you.